Michael Sam

Team

Position

Date Range

Proven playmaker at the defensive end spot who excels at getting in the opposing backfield and causing havoc … His 17.0 career tackles for loss and 9.5 career sacks are the most among any returning Tiger, and he’s got 38 games of experience under his belt, including 10 career starts (with nine starts coming in 2012) … Has shown a knack for being around the ball, as his four forced fumbles, two interceptions and one recovered fumble would attest … Opens camp atop the depth chart at the end position where he started nine times a year ago.

2012 SEASON

Started nine times in 12 appearances and was fourth on the team with 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 quarterback sacks, while his four quarterback pressures ranked as third-most on the team … Recorded his first career defensive touchdown on his first career fumble recovery, scooping and scoring from seven yards out against SELA … Recorded five tackles, highlighted by 1.5 sacks against ASU … Potentially changed the UCF game at the end of the first half with a huge sack … The Knights had the ball on the MU 2-yard line, but Sam’s sack ran the clock out, as UCF was out of timeouts and could not get the field goal unit on the field in time … Posted five tackles, including 1.5 sacks against Alabama and forced a pair of fumbles, closing out a monster game … Had two solo tackles and a quarterback hit in the Tigers’ 33-10 win over Kentucky … Posted one solo tackle, a sack of Tennessee’s Tyler Bray for seven yards, in the Tigers’ 51-48, four overtime win at Tennessee.

2011 SEASON

Continued his development into a key contributor, and ended with 29 tackles on the year, including 3.0 TFLs and 1.5 sacks … Made one of the biggest defensive plays on the season when he intercepted a ball against Texas Tech inside the MU 5-yardline in the closing seconds of the game to preserve a win which made Mizzou bowl eligible … Registered one tackle and a hurry in the season opener with Miami (Ohio) … got his first career start against Western Illinois, where he recorded three tackles … had an assisted tackle for loss against the Oklahoma Sooners in week four … had three tackles, including 1.5 sacks for a loss of five yards, and a quarterback hurry against Iowa State … had four tackles against Oklahoma State … posted five tackles against Kansas, three solo and two assisted…

2010 SEASON

Developed into a solid contributor throughout the year, and made big enough impression to win 2nd-Team Freshman All-American honors by one national outlet … Ended the year with 24 tackles, including 7.0 TFLs and 3.5 QB sacks while forcing 2 fumbles, grabbing 1 interception, blocking a kick and scoring a safety … Made six tackles including 1.5 TFLs vs. McNeese State … Blocked his first career punt against MSU … Also recorded his first career safety in the game, picking up a sack and a forced fumble on the play … Recorded his first career interception and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown, before the return was called back due to a penalty … Made three tackles, including a pair of TFLs against Texas A&M … Recorded three tackles, including one TFL, in the victory over Oklahoma … Made two tackles, including a sack, against Nebraska … Added a sack against KSU … Had a pair of tackles against Kansas, including a sack.

2009 SEASON

Spent his first season as a Tiger working hard in practice and the weightroom while gaining a redshirt.

HIGH SCHOOL

ESPN.com ranked him as the No. 75 overall defensive end prospect in the country … Won First-Team All-District honors as a senior in 2008 as a defensive end, and also as an offensive lineman, and he was also named All-Houston Metro as a defensive end … Was a First-Team All-District pick as a junior on both lines, as well, and took home First-Team All-District defensive line honors as a sophomore and freshman, additionally … Also lettered in the sports of track and powerlifting, in addition to his football exploits … High school coach – Gary Carney …